Welcome to West Michigan Modern!
The photo shown above was taken October 19, 2019. Over 60 people stopped by to tour the Maxam Architecture-Crescent Floral Building and West Michigan Modern Photo-History Exhibit of Grand Rapids rare moderne style homes and buildings!
Here on this website, WMM shares the fascinating history of West Michigan’s mid-century modern architecture in feature stories, virtual tours and the architects and builders index. The emphasis is on the Greater Grand Rapids Metropolitan area west to the Lakeshore. Here you will also find "On-the-Road stories" that take WMModern across Michigan, the nation and abroad.
Coming soon is a link to 2019 guided walking tours beginning in April. Use the contact form to share information and contact the website administrator.
Pam VanderPloeg, Researcher and Site Designer ... Link on the blue text to read more.
Photograph by Pam VanderPloeg copyright 2016
READ ABOUT TEMPLE EMANUEL designed by Erich Mendelsohn
Temple Emanuel designed by internationally known architect Erich Mendelsohn is beautifully sited on East Fulton Street at the corner of Holmdene Street and across from the Aquinas College campus.
Photograph by Pam VanderPloeg copyright 2016
CITY HALL AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DESIGNED BY SOM
The city’s two icons of modern architecture are the International Style ten-story City and three-story County Administration Buildings. These rectangular steel structures were designed by Skidmore, Owings, Merrill (SOM) and are clad in brown Canadian granite and bronzed glass. They are set back on the concrete plaza where the bright red Calder stabile “La Grand Vitesse” stands in bright contrast to the dark granite buildings.The buildings were constructed by Owen Ames Kimball and have remained controversial since completed. In 1974, Calder Sculpture Committee Chair Nancy Mulnix Tweedle convinced Alexander Calder to recreate one of his abstract paintings on the Kent County Administration Building roof. At the time she secured corporate funding for installation and maintenance. The painting is best viewed from the surrounding buildings.
Grand Rapids Public Library Photo Collection, Grand RapidsHistory and Special Collections (GRHSC), Archives, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Read about the lost grand rapids press buildings
The 1966 Grand Rapids Press Building was located on Michigan Street at Monroe. It was a masterpiece of engineering, both in the design of the systems that kept the presses rolling and because of its striking exterior beauty. The Grand Rapids Press was a strong advocate for urban renewal and their own new building was a cornerstone of the district. Daverman Associates designed the dramatic five-story building.
The Grand Rapids Evening Press (as it was then known) was founded in 1892 by George C. Booth. In 2015 the 1966 Press building was demolished to make way for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Bio-Research Facility.
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PARK DEPARTMENT PARK-SCHOOLS
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GRAND RAPIDS CITY ARCHIVES
Read about the innovative Park-School Development Program, beginning in 1951. The program achieved national acclaim from the American Institute of Landscape Archtects and Architectural Forum's National Committee of Architects working to solve the unprecedented post WWII postwar classroom shortage.
Link here to read more and view current and vintage images of the schools and parks. http://grandrapidsbuildings.com/grand-rapids-park-schools-19511961-1/